Gulls Can Score, but They Need to Win : USIU: Coach Gary Zarecky hopes softer schedule, new players will help team get to .500 level and beyond.

After the last locker door has slammed shut for the season, most basketball coaches sit in their offices, scan the just-completed schedule and make mental notes with the clearest head they’ve had since about the same time the previous year.

It is the annual audit of what and who met expectations, and what and who did not. And for the ninth consecutive year, U.S. International found itself on the debit side of the ledger, this time at 12-16.

This isn’t to say that all was negative for the Gulls. They finished fourth nationally in scoring with 97.8 points per game, their best since leading the nation in 1984-85 with 90.3. And guard Kevin Bradshaw proved to be the prolific scorer Coach Gary Zarecky had promised, averaging 31.3 points to finish second in Division I only to Loyola Marymount’s Bo Kimble.

But the team did not do well in the most important criteria for Zarecky and the others trying to lead the USIU program out of the woods that surround its Scripps Ranch campus:

Victories and losses.

“We were disappointed in the win-loss situation,” Zarecky said. “I really felt we had a good shot at 14 or 15 wins. But we were more optimistic about our inside game then. We didn’t know it was going to break down like that.”

It appeared early as if USIU had its best chance in years to break its string of losing seasons and surpass its best record--13-12 in 1980-81--since it turned Division I in 1979-80. The Gulls returned four starters from an 11-17 team, added Bradshaw and had 17 home games.

Sure enough, the Gulls opened with two victories at home. But then came a game at Oklahoma, a team that finished the regular season No. 1 in the nation. The 173-101 thrashing suffered by USIU had more mental repercussions than physical, and the Gulls reeled afterward, losing seven in a row, including 55-53 to Mercer and 166-101 to nationally ranked Arkansas.

USIU still had a chance for that winning season as it opened a nine-game home stand with a 2-7 record. A 113-107 loss to Wright State hurt, but defeats by previously winless Colgate (91-88 on a three-pointer at the buzzer) and Winthrop (80-76) were devastating. After the Winthrop loss, the Gulls were 4-10, and two things were apparent: They lacked an inside game, and they would not reach .500.

“I think (our inside game) was probably the most disappointing thing.” Zarecky said. “I guess it surprised us. It became our Achilles’ heel.”

If the 1989-90 season did anything for USIU, it gave Zarecky and Athletic Director Al Palmiotto a better idea of what they need to do.

What USIU needs is a big man at power forward and a schedule of teams similar to itself in size and ability, not top 10 types simply for the paydays.

To this end, Zarecky said he already has a verbal commitment from a 6-foot-10 power forward. And he has 6-11 1/2 Derek Izilien, a junior who will be eligible next season after transferring from Florida A&M.;

As far as the schedule is concerned, Oklahoma and Arkansas are out, and Cal State Northridge, Northeastern Illinois, New Orleans and Fairleigh Dickinson are in.

But USIU is going to need more. The Gulls are losing three starters and 46 points per game. Gone are Demetrius Laffitte, one of the few players in the nation to average double figures in scoring and rebounding two consecutive years; point guard Steve Smith, who started most of his four years and set single-season and career records for assists, and Paul Wilson, who averaged double-figure scoring both seasons at USIU.

Despite these losses, Zarecky says the Gulls will be better.

He already has signed Marc Tuite, a 6-5 guard rated as one of the top five high school players in the San Francisco-Oakland area by Street & Smith. Zarecky said he will try Tuite at the point, and if that doesn’t work out, he might move Bradshaw from shooting guard.

Whatever Zarecky does, he knows what the outcome must be.

“We’ve got to go to work and put a winner on the floor,” Zarecky said. “Until we do it, we aren’t going to get any degree of respect in our own backyard.”

KEY GULLS FOR 1990-91 TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

(Year is class for next season)

Pos. Name Ht. Yr. Comment G Kevin Bradshaw 6-6 Sr. No. 2 scorer nationally at 31.3, has potential to be No. 1. C Mike Sterner 6-11 Sr. Underachiever, averaged 4.8 points, shot 27% from line. G Isaac Brown 6-4 So. Averaged 7.1 points, showed most potential of reserves.

NEWCOMERS

Pos. Name Ht. Yr. Comment G Marc Tuite 6-5 Fr. Rated as one of top recruits in San Francisco/Oakland. C Derek Izilien 6-11 Jr. Transfer has defense, can run. Needs offensive work. G Jeff Polinsky 6-4 Fr. For Monte Vista, led Grossmont Conference with 24 PPG.